Education (Adminstrative, Teaching, etc.): Make a Difference! TEACH!

Introduction
Get out there and see if it's for you! Visit classrooms-in as many settings as possible (elementary, secondary, urban, suburban, private) and see where your interest lies.

Job Function
The best aspect BY FAR is that look on a child's face when he/she "gets it" (whether it's a math concept, language arts skill, or just that look of "I can trust this adult"). The worst aspect would have to be the politics! There are (as in any industry) those "powers that be" who make the administrative decisions that make no sense to the actual practitioners. But we continue to fight the good fight and protect the best interests of the child. Advertisement
Lifestyle
I am new to this profession, so right now, it is much more work than play...and I do believe that teaching is NOT a 6 hour-a-day, 180 days-per-year job. THAT is the biggest misconception. Most teachers work at least 8 hours a day, and vacation weeks/summer vacations are primarily working vacations. Teachers take their job with them wherever they go...they are always thinking of the needs of their students, whether while shopping at Walmart for prizes and incentives, combing bargain bins for supplemental materials not provided by the meager budget, or even performing the impromptu parent conference in the aisles at the local supermarket. This career is ever enduring, and allows for flexibility in location. If your personality is one of caring and compassion, patience, and a love of children, you will LOVE going to work every day as a teacher.

Additional Information
Most of us want to leave our mark and make a difference in this world, and I can think of no better way than to teach today's children. Teachers are so much more than "instructors." The knowledge they impart helps shape the entire child: from social skills and moral values to conflict management and civic awareness. The days of "reading, writing, and arithmetic" are long gone. Yes, we need to prepare these children for academic success; but more importantly, we prepare them for success in their lives! Some will excel and go on to higher academia, some need to build the confidence and skills for the labor force, and some just need a safe haven from their tumultuous daily lives. Can you imagine the difference you can make to each individual? Consider teaching as your means of leaving a mark on this world, as a means of shaping this nation's future, and as a means of realizing what I believe is the most personally fulfilling experience there is!